Cosmetic applicator

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic applicator, including: a container including an opening and a cap covering the opening; a brush rod extending from the cap to an interior of the container; an applicator body fixedly disposed on the tail end of the brush rod; and an inner plug. The radial section of the applicator body is non-circular. The inner plug includes a fixed part fixedly arranged in the opening of the container, and a rotating part arranged at the lower end of the fixed part and capable of circumferentially rotating. The rotating part includes an axial hole, and the shape of the radial section of the axial hole and the shape of the radial section of the brush rod match with the shape of the section of the applicator body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2015/090090 with an international filing date of Sep. 21, 2015, designating the United States, now pending, and further claims foreign priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201510385662.X filed Jul. 3, 2015. The contents of all of the aforementioned applications, including any intervening amendments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. Inquiries from the public to applicants or assignees concerning this document or the related applications should be directed to: Matthias Scholl P.C., Attn.: Dr. Matthias Scholl Esq., 245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, Mass. 02142.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a cosmetic applicator.

Description of the Related Art

Cosmetics such as mascara, lipsticks, eyeliner and the like, are applied with cosmetic applicators. Conventional cosmetic applicators include a container which has an opening and a cap, a brush rod extending from the cap to the interior of the container, an applicator body disposed at the tail end of the brush rod, and an inner plug arranged in the opening of the container. The inner plug includes a circular through hole. When the applicators are used to apply cosmetics, the applicator body and the brush rod are taken out of the circular through hole.

The head of the applicator body can be made in various shapes, such as a triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon, an ellipse, a dovetail, and the like. Because the shape of the head does not correspond to the shape of the circular through hole, when the head passes through the circular through hole of the inner plug, cosmetic particles adhering to the surface of the head end up in areas where they do not belong, which leads to waste and causes unsatisfactory user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the technical problems mentioned above, it is one objective of the present invention to provide an improved cosmetic applicator.

The cosmetic applicator comprises a brush rod, an inner plug comprising an axial hole, and an applicator body. The shape of the axial hole of the inner plug is designed to match the shapes of the applicator body and of the brush rod, and the inner plug is a rotatable structure, so that, when the applicator body is taken out from the axial hole of the inner plug, most of the cosmetic pastes are intercepted by the side walls around the axial hole, and the cosmetics on the surface of the applicator body are uniformized, improving the user experience.

In accordance to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a cosmetic applicator, comprising: a container, the container comprising an opening and a cap covering the opening, the container being configured to contain cosmetics; a brush rod extending from the cap to an interior of the container; an applicator body fixedly disposed on a tail end of the brush rod, and a radial section of the applicator body being non-circular; and an inner plug. The inner plug comprises a fixed part fixedly arranged in the opening of the container, and a rotating part arranged at a lower end of the fixed part and capable of circumferentially rotating, the rotating part comprises an axial hole, and a shape of a radial section of the axial hole and a shape of a radial section of the brush rod match with a shape of a section of the applicator body; and the cap can drive the brush rod and the rotating part to rotate in relation to the fixed part when the cap is to be opened or closed.

In a class of this embodiment, the shape of the radial section of the brush rod, of the axial hole and of the applicator body is an ellipse, triangle, square or regular pentagon.

In a class of this embodiment, the applicator body is a mascara brush head for applying mascara, or a cotton head for applying lipsticks or an eyeliner brush head for applying eyeliner.

In a class of this embodiment, the applicator body is the mascara brush head, and the radial section of the applicator body is dovetail-shaped.

In a class of this embodiment, the mascara brush head comprises iron wires and a plurality of nylon bristles winding around the iron wires to form a dovetail shape, and a tail end of each nylon bristle is provided with uniformly distributed arcs in a circumferential direction.

In a class of this embodiment, an inner circumferential wall of one end of the cap is in threaded seal connection to an outer circumferential wall of the opening of the container.

In a class of this embodiment, the lower end of the fixed part comprises a hook, the upper end of the rotating part comprises a snap ring corresponding to the hook, and the snap ring is capable of circumferentially rotating in relation to the hook, but being fixed in relation to other directions.

In a class of this embodiment, the tail end of the brush rod comprises a jack, one end of the applicator body comprises an inserted rod, and the inserted rod is corresponding to the jack.

Advantages of the cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure are summarized as follows: the cosmetic applicator comprises the applicator body with a non-circular radial section, the shapes of the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are designed to match with the shape of the special-shaped applicator body, and the inner plug is designed to be of a rotatable two-layer structure, so the problem that the cosmetics cannot be intercepted by the inner plug is solved. Its working principle is as follows: in the prior art, the radial section of the applicator body is non-circular, and the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are circular, so the side walls around the axial hole of the inner plug cannot intercept and uniformize the cosmetics on the surface of the applicator body; in the present disclosure, in order to achieve the objective of wiping off the cosmetics, the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are designed to be special-shaped to match the applicator body, specifically, the inner plug is designed to be of a rotatable two-layer structure, the upper layer is the fixed part fixedly arranged in the opening of the container, and the lower layer is the rotating part capable of rotating circumferentially in relation to the fixed part and the container; therefore, when the combination of the cap and the brush rod rotates, the lower layer of the inner plug can rotate synchronously without influencing the use. As a preferable design scheme, the brush rod, the axial hole of the inner plug and the applicator body may be designed in a non-circular special shape, such as ellipse, triangle, square, regular pentagon and the like, but not limited thereto, and may be further designed in other irregular shapes to meet requirements of different-shape applicator bodies of the cosmetic applicator. The applicator body may be further designed to be special-shaped heads with different functions according to actual requirements, such as a mascara brush head for applying mascara, a cotton head for applying lipsticks an eyeliner brush head for applying eyeliner and the like, so as to form cosmetic applicators with different functions, such as a mascara applicator, or a lipstick applicator, an eyeliner applicator and the like. As a special requirement of the mascara applicator, the radial section of the mascara brush head may be designed in a dovetail shape, which is formed by removing parts of two opposite sides of a circle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cosmetic applicator of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken from line B-B in FIG. 1 along the arrow A;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken from line B-B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of an inner plug of a cosmetic applicator in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of an inner plug with an elliptical axial hole in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of an inner plug with a regular pentagonal axial hole in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of an inner plug with a triangular axial hole in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of an inner plug with a square axial hole in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of an applicator body in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 shows a radial section of the applicator body in FIG. 9.

In the drawings, the following reference numbers are used: 1—container; 2—cap; 3—brush rod; 31—jack; 4—applicator body; 41—iron wire; 42—nylong bristle; 43—inserted rod; 5—inner plug; 51—fixed part; 52—rotating part; 511—hook; 522—snap ring; and 521—axial hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For further illustrating the invention, experiments detailing a cosmetic applicator is described below. It should be noted that the following examples are intended to describe and not to limit the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a cosmetic applicator comprises a container 1, a cap 2 and a brush rod 3, and further comprises an applicator body 4 and an inner plug 5. The container is used for containing cosmetics, one end of the container is opened, the cap is used for opening or closing an opening of the container, and the brush rod is formed after extending from the cap to the interior of the container; the applicator body is fixedly connected to the tail end of the brush rod, and the radial section of the applicator body is non-circular special-shaped; the inner plug comprises a fixed part 51 fixedly arranged in the opening of the container, and a rotating part 52 arranged at the lower end of the fixed part and circumferentially rotating but locked in other directions, the rotating part comprises an axial hole 521, the side walls around the axial hole is capable of wiping off excessive cosmetics on the applicator body after the brush rod closely passes through the axial hole, and the shape of the radial section of the axial hole and the shape of the radial section of the brush rod match with the shape of the section of the applicator body; and the cap can drive the brush rod and the rotating part to rotate in relation to the fixed part when the cap is to be opened or closed. In the foregoing structure, the cosmetic applicator comprising a special-shaped head comprises the applicator body with a non-circular radial section, the shapes of the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are designed to match with the shape of the special-shaped applicator body, and the inner plug is designed to be of a rotatable two-layer structure, so the problem that the cosmetics cannot be intercepted by the inner plug is solved. Its working principle is as follows: in the prior art, the radial section of the applicator body is non-circular, and the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are circular, so the problem that the side walls around the axial hole of the inner plug cannot intercept the cosmetics on the applicator body may be generated; and in the present disclosure, in order to achieve the objective of completely wiping off the cosmetics, the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are designed to be special-shaped to match with the applicator body, the inner plug is designed to be of a rotatable two-layer structure, the upper layer is the fixed part fixedly arranged in the opening of the container, and the lower layer is the rotating part capable of rotating circumferentially corresponding to the fixed part and the container; therefore, when the combination of the cap and the brush rod rotates, the lower layer of the inner plug can rotate synchronously without influencing the use.

Preferably, the shapes of the radial sections of the brush rod, the axial hole and the applicator body are ellipse, or triangle, or square or regular pentagon. As a preferable design scheme, the brush rod, the axial hole of the inner plug and the applicator body may be designed in a non-circular special shape, such as ellipse, triangle, square, regular pentagon and the like, but not limited thereto, and may be further designed in other irregular shape to meet requirements of different-shape applicator bodies of the cosmetic applicator. FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of an inner plug with an elliptical axial hole; FIG. 6 illustrates a structure of an inner plug with a regular pentagonal axial hole; FIG. 7 illustrates a structure of an inner plug with a triangular axial hole; and FIG. 8 illustrates a structure of an inner plug with a square axial hole.

Preferably, the applicator body is a mascara brush head for applying mascara, or a cotton head for applying lipsticks or an eyeliner brush head for applying eyeliner. The applicator body may be designed to be special-shaped heads with different functions according to actual requirements so as to form cosmetic applicators with different functions, such as a mascara applicator, or a lipstick applicator, an eyeliner applicator and the like.

Preferably, the applicator body is the mascara brush head, and the radial section of the applicator body is dovetail-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9. As a special requirement of the mascara applicator, the radial section of the mascara brush head may be designed in a dovetail shape, which is formed by removing parts of two opposite sides of a circle.

Preferably, the mascara brush head comprises iron wires 41 and a plurality of nylon bristles 42 winding around the iron wires to form a dovetail shape, and the tail end of each nylon bristle is provided with uniformly distributed arcs in a circumferential direction. Therefore, consumers are easy to make up.

Preferably, an inner circumferential wall of one end of the cap is in threaded seal connection to an outer circumferential wall of the opening of the container.

Preferably, the lower end of the fixed part comprises a hook 511, the upper end of the rotating part comprises a snap ring 522 corresponding to the hook, and the snap ring circumferentially rotates in relation to the hook, but is locked in other directions. Due to matching between the hook and the snap ring, a function that the fixed part and the rotating part circumferentially rotate and are locked in other directions may be achieved.

Preferably, a jack 31 is formed in the tail end of the brush rod, an inserted rod 43 is arranged at one end of the applicator body, and the inserted rod is inserted in the jack. Due to matching between the inserted rod and the jack, fixed connection between the applicator body and the brush rod may be achieved.

To sum up, the cosmetic applicator comprising a special-shaped head, provided by the present disclosure, comprises the applicator body with a non-circular radial section, the shapes of the brush rod and the axial hole of the inner plug are designed to match with the shape of the applicator body, and the inner plug is designed to be of a rotatable two-layer structure, including an upper layer and a lower layer, so the problem that the cosmetics cannot be intercepted by the inner plug is solved.

Unless otherwise indicated, the numerical ranges involved in the invention include the end values. While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic applicator, comprising: a container comprising an opening and a cap covering the opening, the container being configured to contain cosmetics; a brush rod extending from the cap to an interior of the container; an applicator body that is fixedly disposed on a tail end of the brush rod and that includes a radial section that is non-circular; and an inner plug; wherein the inner plug comprises a fixed part that is fixedly arranged in the opening of the container, and a rotating part that is arranged at a lower end of the fixed part and that is capable of circumferentially rotating; and the rotating part comprises an axial hole, and a shape of a radial section of the axial hole and a shape of a radial section of the brush rod each match a shape of a section of the applicator body.
 2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein shapes of radial sections of the brush rod, of the axial hole and of the applicator body are an ellipse, triangle, square or regular pentagon.
 3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator body is a mascara brush head for applying mascara, or a cotton head for applying lipsticks, or an eyeliner brush head for applying eyeliner.
 4. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the applicator body is the mascara brush head, and the radial section of the applicator body is dovetail-shaped.
 5. The applicator of claim 4, wherein the mascara brush head comprises iron wires and a plurality of nylon bristles winding around the iron wires to form a dovetail shape, and a tail end of each nylon bristle is provided with uniformly distributed arcs in a circumferential direction.
 6. The applicator of claim 1, wherein an inner circumferential wall of one end of the cap is in threaded seal connection to an outer circumferential wall of the opening of the container.
 7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the fixed part comprises a hook, an upper end of the rotating part comprises a snap ring corresponding to the hook, and the snap ring is capable of circumferentially rotating in relation to the hook.
 8. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the tail end of the brush rod comprises a jack, one end of the applicator body comprises an inserted rod, and the inserted rod is corresponding to the jack.
 9. The applicator of claim 1, wherein when the cap is opened or closed, the cap drives the brush rod and the rotating part to rotate in relation to the fixed part. 